A Woodley man who took it upon himself to clear up graffiti outside his home was believed to have been attacked by the vandal who painted it.

The 64-year-old had to have stitches in his leg and was left swollen and bruised when a man attacked him at about 9.50pm last Thursday, in Loddon Bridge Road.

He said: “I was painting over the graffiti on the front wall of the bridge (underneath the A329M flyover) because it is unsightly, especially on that front wall. I thought no one was around but the next thing a man walked round the corner.

“He started threatening to kill me and then beat me.”

The threatening man had an extendable painting roller and a ladder, he assaulted the Good Samaritan leaving him with a deep gash to his left shin, a small gash to his right shin, swelling to his knuckles and bruising on his arm.

The 64-year-old said he often paints over the graffiti and has never had a problem before.

“That whole area is covered in graffiti but I try to keep that front wall tidy,” he explained. “I was trying to paint over the mess, it is an eyesore.”

Defiant in the face of danger, he has vowed to continue painting over the graffiti.

He said: “It doesn’t bother me, someone has got to clear it up, the area seems to have been abandoned by the council, it is in such a state. Until they deal with the graffiti I will keep cleaning it up.”

The man who assaulted him was white, aged between 20 and 25 years old, with a bald head and three lines tattooed on his hair line.

Investigating officer PC Adam Whelpdale from Loddon Valley police station said: “This offence happened next to a busy road. There is a large amount of graffiti on the pillars of the A329M flyover, which includes the tag ‘SERBO’.

“The person who attacked this victim is very distinctive with three lines tattooed on his forehead. The offender had brought a ladder, paint and rollers with him to the scene and so a vehicle may have been involved in the transport of this equipment.

“Anyone who has seen a man matching the above description, carrying these items would be very helpful if they could identify any vehicle involved or if they saw their direction of travel.”